Conveyer.



0. A. MORRIS.

OONVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEB, 1909.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i an we 14 ton C/mr/es fl/lfima a? 1 71/5 Guam @130 I We 7 W 0. A1MORRIS.

GONVEYER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNBQ, 1909.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. MORRIS.

OONVEYBR.

APPLICATION FILED June, 1909.

3 SHEET8SHEET 3.

Pat ented Dec. 17,1912.

Charles J] War 1's wibvpmoeoz W W poses and embodying this invention.

iJrrED STATES PATENT oFmon.

CHARLES A. MORRIS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATORCOMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

Application filed June 9, 1909. Serial No. 501,030.

To all vi /2.0m it'mdy concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MORRIS, a. citizen of the United States,residing in Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, haveinventedcertain new anduseful Conveyers, of which the following is a.specification.

This invention is a conveyer capable of application to a variety 0 uses,among which may be mentioned that of an upright spiral conveyer forhandling boxes, barrels, packages and merchandise generally, as well asfor elevating the cars in pleasure or scenic railways, and for usegenerally in diii'erent arts wherein it may be desired to either conveyor to impart movement to various inanimate objects or structures.-

()ne leading and prominent factor of my invention is an upright spiralconveyor wherein a flexible roller chain operates in a spiral conduitsunken below the surface of a spiral platform or track, whereby wheeledcars ortrucks. or packages of inerchandise, may be propelled along thespiral platform or track by the operation of the chain running in thespiral conduit. In this connection it is desired to state that theplatform or track of the spiral elevator may be equipped with a rollerbed to facilitate the transit thereover of the merchandise. Furthermore,the spiral conduit, as an entirety, is separate and distinct from theplatform or track arid its roller bed, to the end that said conduit maybe adjusted (raised or lowered) with respect to the track, suchadjustment of the conduit and the chain being secured by appropriatemechanical contrivances;

in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different. practicalembodiments of the invention, but the constructions shown therein are tobe understood. as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits ofthe invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a spiral conveyer adapted for'various pur- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. i.Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 12l2 of Fig. 2illustrating in detail a part of the spiral truck or plat,-

vice.

form, a conduit, a haulage device substantially inc-ased within saidconduit, and means for. adjusting the conduit and the haulage devicewith reference to the spiral track or platform; Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line 1313 of Fig-3. Fig. 5 is a cross sectionillustrating the conveying mechanism adapted for use in conjunction withthe wheeled trucks or pleasure railways. Fig. 6 is a verticallongitudinal section through a part of the conduit, the haulage deviceadapted for operation therein and a latch mechanism whereby a wheeledtruck, such as shown in Fig. 5, may be connected operatively with saidhaulage de- Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section through the conduit andthe haulage device,

illustrating the latch mechanism of Fig. 6

in connection therewith. Fig. 8 is a sec tional plan view of the conduitand the haulage device, the plane of the section being indicated by thedotted line 55 of Fig.

6. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views illustrating other embodiments of theflexible haulage device.

Figs. 1 to at, inclusive, of-the drawings illustrate an importantembodiment of my conveying system, wherein the flexible roller chain isadapted to travel in a substantially spiral path for the purpose ofelevating barrels, packages or other merchandise from a lower to ahigher point,.or for permitting the gravity discharge of merchandisefrom an elevated point to a lowerpoint. In this en'ibodiment of theinvention, I employ an inclined track or platform, 0, the same beingpreferably in the form of a spiral. Said platform or track is supportedby a plural, ity of substantially horizontal bracket arms, 0, which arefixed to a central post or column, O, the lower end of which is steppedin a bearing, 0, of a suitable base, 0. The outer edge of the spiralplatform or track, 0, is stayed by a plurality of upright brace members,0 which are fastened to the track or platform in any suitable way, as bythe bolt, 0 shown in Fig. 3. Cooperating with this substantially spiraltrack or platform has a loadin or receivin end 0 and a t 7 7 be hauledfrom a lower to a higher point upon the platform by the operation of achain, C, within said conduit, P, but the merchandise or other objectsmay be allowed to slide by gravity along the track or platform, 0, sothat they will pass from a higher to a lower point by the action ofgravity alone. Vere the conduit, P, and operating chain, C, fixed in animmovable position with respect to the spiral platform, the operation ofunloading by gravity would be interfered with owing to the position ofthe conduit and the chain, and 1 therefore make the conduit separatefrom the track, and position it in movable relation thereto, whereby theconduit may be depressed below the upper surface of the spiral platformin order to lower the dogs on the hauling chain below 1' 1e path of themerchandise which is adapted. to slide by gravity downwa'rdly upon thespiral platform. This embodiment of the invention is shown more clearlin Fi s. 3 and 4 of the drawin 's' wherein the bracket arms, 0, areprovided with the pockets or depressions, g, the spiral platform, 0,being divided centrally so that one part of the platform lies on oneside of the pocket, 9, and the other part of the platform is on theopposite side of said pocket, 9. The conduit, B, is constructedinseparate sections which are united in end to end order so as toconform to the spiral contour of the platform, 0, each. section of theconduit being closed on its bottom and two sides, and said conduithaving a slot in its top. The conduit is received in the space betweenthe divided parts of platform, 0, and in the pockets, 1, on the bracketarms, 0, for supporting the divided platform, said conduit being capableof an up and down movement in the pocket, q. The conduit rests uponrollers, Q, which are sup ported in suitable plates, 7, at the outerends of other bracket arm's, Q, each bracket arm, Q, having a collar,7", adapted to be clamped by bolts, 1", around post or column, 0. Therequired number of bracket arms, Q, are attached to the post or columnfor supporting the conduit, B, in a stationary position with respect tothe spiral platform, but when it is desired to adjust the conduit in anup or down direction, the required number of arms, Q, are adjusted inone direction around the post or column, O. In view of the fact that theconduit is inclined, as shown in Fig. 4, the movement of arm, Q, androller, Q, in one direction, as for example, to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 4, will lower the conduit, B, and chain, 0, to a positionbelow the rollers, S, S, c0nstituting a roller bed upon the spiralplatform, 0, whereby the dogs, T, of chain, C, will be lowered belowsaid rollers. For bringing the chain back to its position to force theload up the spiral platform, arms, Q, are moved to the positions shownin full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, and thus the conduit and the-,chain willbe raised to their operative positions for the purpose of enabling dogs,T, to push the load over the roller bed, S, S, on the spiral platform.

The chain which I prefer to employ in the spiral conveyer of Figs. 1 to4, inclusive, is the double jointed link chain having theweight-carrying rollers, F, and direction rollers, E, similar to thechain shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which will be hereinafter described.Suitable links of this chain are 1)1'O\;l(.l(l with upstanding dogs, T,one of which is shown in Fig. 4, each dog being arranged to operate inthe slot, B", of the conduit. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the runningchain is of the endless variety, and it is guided around sprocketwheels, t, t, said sprocket wheel, 6, being fixed to a shaft 6 which isdriven by a motor or engine T, whereby motion is communicated to therunning chain for the purpose of moving it through the conduit. Theroller chain is supported in the conduit, through 9 which it is free torun, and as this chain is provided with rollers, E F, the chain willoperate with very little friction in the condull, and it willbend orflex so as to easily follow the contour of said conduit.

The sections, 0, O, of the divided platform are provided with suitablesupports, .9, for the arbors of rollers, S, S, the rollers, S, being onone side of the conduit, and rollers, S, being on the opposite side ofsaid conduit. The rollers form a roller bed over which the objects areadapted to easily and freely travel, when said objects are pushedupwardly by the dogs, T, on the traveling chain, 0, but when the'conduitand the chain are depressed so that the dogs, T, will lie practicallybelow the upper surface of rollers, S, S, then the objects can travelover the rollers and in a downward direction. Suitable guards, S, areprovided at the inner and outer sides of the spiral platform, 0,topreclude the objects from falling oil the roller bed when said objectsare pushed upwardly by the chain, or when they are allowed to slidedownwardly by gravity.

Instead of employing a roller bed upon the spiral platform to facilitatethe movement of packages, etc, unon said platform, I may omit saidroller bed and provide a 'ilatform with a track composed of rails u,

' as shown in Fig. 5. These rails are adapted to he engaged by theflangedwalls u of a truck U. The conduit 15 may be counte sunk below thesurface of the platform as heretofore described in connection with Figs.1 to 4:, or said conduit may be positioner upon the top of the platform,as shown in Fig. 5. Within this condult 0p- .erates a traveling haulagechain C which 1s adapted to be engaged by a trigger H of the truck orcar, said trigger being 1llustrated more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6oi the drawings. The engagement of trigger H with the haulage chainimparts movement to the car or truck U, whereby the car or truck isadapted to be hauled in an upward direction by the operation of thehaulage chain, or the descent of the car or truck upon the platform iscontrolled by the ,operation of the haulage chain.

It is evident that the spiral conveyer illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 or inFigs. 5 and 6 may be employed to advantage in connection with scenic orpleasure railways for the purpose of hauling the passenger cars from theunloading point back to an elevated loading point.' The spiral conveyeris advantageous for the reason that it requires comparatively littlespace for the purpose of raising the passenger cars from a lower to ahigher point.

Conduit B is constructed, preferably, in longitudinal sections, eachsection being cast in a single piece so that the bottom and side wallsare integral. As shown in Fig. 7, the side walls of the conduit areprovided with outwardly and upwardly extending flanges b which formrecesses 6 adapted to receive suitable plates B. Said plates are seatedin the upper flanged end of the conduitso as to lie flush with theflanges b Said plates are adapted to be secured firmly to the conduit bysuitable means, such as screws 6 Furthermore, the plates are spaced attheir inner edges for the purpose of producing a slot B in the upperside of the conduit, whereby p ovision is made for the passage of. a(leVll )I' member, such as a latch, for coupling a truck or car with thetraveling haulage chain (l. The construction of conduit B is such thatits vertical and cross sectional dimensions are reduced as compared withother conveyingsystems of this class with which T am familiar.

A salient feature of the invention is a double jointed roller chainadapted to travel within, and to be substantially incased by. conduit B,the rollers of said chain being positioned for ei'igagemenl with sidewalls 1/ of the "ouduit whereby said roller chain is adapted to guide ordirect itself within the conduit so as to automatically conform to thecontour of said conduit. Various constiurlions of the flexible haulagechain are shown in l igs. 3. T and 8 and in Figs. 9 and l.

The haulage chain of Figs. 6, 7 and S is a double jointed chaincomprising pairs of links e and intermediate links a e Each link a isprovided with a'longi'tiidinalslot- 6, whereas each link 6 is forked orbifurcated at c, and is provided with a tongue 6 said link 6 beingforked at e at the opposite end from its slot 0 The links a, 0,comprising one pair are fitted within the bifurcated part a of link 6,said links 6, e, and 0 being connected by a pintle f. The several endsof links 0, e, are received within the bifurcated part e of link andsaid ,links a, and c are pivotally connected by another pintle f. Thelink (2 is positioned next to the link a, so that the shank of link a isreceived in the slotted part c" of said link 0, said links 6, 6 beingconnected pivotally by a pintle g. From this description it apparentthat the pairs of links (2, e are each connected atone end by a pintle fto the forked part c of one link 0, while the other ends of said pairof-links c, c, are connected by a pintle f to the forked part- 6 of theother link 0', whereas links 6' and e are connected pivotally by thepintle g. Pintles f, f extend through the links of the chain in onedirection, said pintles f, f being vertical, whereas pintles g"- extendthrough the links of the chain in a direction at an angle to the pintlesf, f, said pintles 9 being preferably at right angles to the pintles f,f.

The described construction of the. chain permits it to bend or flex intwo directions for the reason that pintles g permit the "links to turnin a vertical plane, whereas pintles f, f enable the links to bend in ahorizontal plane, and this chain is adapted to travel within anirregular or spiral conduit.

The haulage chain is provided with roll-- ers F for sustaining itsweight and reducing the frictional contact between the chain and thebottom of the conduit. Furthermore, said chain is provided with rollersE positioned for frictional contact with the side walls of the conduitfor the purpose of re ducing the friction between the chain and theconduit as said chain travels around bends or corners in said conduit.Rollers E are mounted to rotate freely on pintles f, f, whereas rollersF are mounted to turn freely on pintlcs g. Rollers F are between, or inalternate relation to. rollers E, see Figs. 6 and 8, and said rollers Frotate on axes which are at right angles to the axes of rotation ofrollers E.

As shown, rollers E are mounted in the forked or bifurcated ends 0 oflinks 0, 0 respectively, and bctw eenthe end portions of the pair oflinks e, e,- but it is preferred to mount rollers F in pairs exteriorlyto the links, see Fi s. 7 and 8. Thus the direction rollers worr withinthe links, while the weight sustaining rollers- F operate exteriorly tothe links, two of said weight sustainingv rollers F being mounted on theend portions of one pintle g. It is not desired to limit-the inventionto the double jointed pivoted link chain of the character shown in Figs.6, 7 and 8, for the reason that I may employ a haulage chain C of theform shown in Fig. 9, or the haulage chain C of the form shown in Fig.10.-

Chain' C of Fig. 9 consists of links it loosely connected to each otherlike an ordinary link chain so as to permit flexibility of the chain invarious directions. Said chain is provided with rollers E, F. As shownat the left of Fig. 9, roller E is positioned within one link and isarranged to the chain are provided with rollers E, F

which rotate on vertical and horizontal axes /i.'-, if, respectively.Said chain of Fig. 10 is provided with an upstanding member'Gr adaptedto travel in slot 13 of the conduit, and to projectabove the uppersurface of said conduit for the purpose of engagigg' with package orother inanimate ,pbject which is to be pushed along by the operation ofthe haulage chain.

In Figs. (3 and 7 of the drawings I have shown a trigger mechanismadapted to be carried by a hanger of a wheeled truck, such as a car ortruck V of Fig. 5, said trigger mechanism operating to connect the caror truck with the haulage chain C incased within the conduit. Thetrigger H is slidably mounted within a hanger K, the latter being shownin Fig. -t as havinga caster wheel H.' The frame j of the car or truckprovided with a bearing plate J secured firmly thereto by bolts orscrews j, said bearing plate being provided with an upstanding boss jThe hanger K cooperates with said bearing plate J, said hanger beingprovided with a stud 7a which fits into the boss j-, suit-able bearingballs 7.1 being positioned betwecn the hanger and the bearing plate,whereby said hanger is free to turn relative to'the bearing plate. Thehanger is provided with a guide lug Z for the spindle lJ forming a partof the trigger H Said spindle is provided with a collar Z upon which isseated a coiled spring L, the

latter acting to depress the spindle and-the trigger with reference tothe hanger and the car or truck. Said rigger is adapted to pass throughslot B in the top of the con duit, the lower end of thetrigger enteringthe slot 0 in one link of the chain, as shown in Fig. 8, or to enter anopening in tlfe'chain link h of Figs. 9 and 10. When it is desired torelease the trigger from the chain, I may .the trigger automaticallyfrom the haulage chain.

It is to be understood that my invention is not restricted to anyparticular cross sectional form of conduit, nor to the specific conduitconstruction herein disclosed, for the reason that said conduit,particularly the conduit for the spiral conveyer, may be varied in formand construction as deemed suitable by skilled constructors.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a conveyer, a substantially spiral platform, a roller bedthereon, a substantially spiral conduit in cooperative relation to saidplatform and the roller bed thereon, and a roller chain operating insaid conduit.

2. In a conveyer, a spiral platform, a. spiral conduit cooperatingtherewith, loadsupporting rollers positioned on said latform, a flexiblehaulage device substantially incased within the conduit, and a loadengaging device movable with the haulage device.

3. In a conveyer, a platform, a conduitseparate from said platform,means whereby the conduit may be adjusted relatively to said platform,and a traveling member operating in said conduit.

4. In a conveyer, a platform, a conduit separate therefrom, meanswhereby one of said parts may be raisedor lowered relative to the other,and a traveling member positioned within said conduit.

5. In a conveyer, a platform, a conduit separate therefrom, means forbodily raising or lowering said conduit with reference to the platform,and a flexible chain operating in said conduit.

.colldlllt.

T. In a ICOIIVQYQI, a substantially spiral platform, a substantiallyspiral conduit separate from saidplatforin, means for bodily raising andlowering said conduit, relative to said platform, and a traveling memberoperating in said conduit.

S. n a conveyer, a substantially spiral platforin,-a substantiallyspiral conduit separate from said platform, means for bodily raising andlowering said conduit relative to said platform. and a flexible rollerchain operating in said conduit.

9. In a conveyer, a substantially spiral platform, a roller bed thereon,a conduit following the curvature of said platform,

means whereby said conduit may be raised or-lowered with respect to saidroller bed,

andpower operated means within said condint.

10. In a ;conveyer, a substantially spiral platform, a conduitcooperating therewith,

means whereby the elevation of one of said parts may be changed withrelation to the other part, and power operated means housed. in saidconduit;

11. In a conveyer, a substantially spiral platform, a conduitcooperating therewith,

means whereby the elevation of one of said parts" may be changed withrelation to the other part, a flexlble roller chain supported withinsaid conduit for movement with respect thereto.

12. In a conveyer, an inclined latform, an inclined conduit separate terefrom,

means movable in a horizontal plane and coiiperating with said conduitWhereby'the position of said conduit relative to the platform may bechanged, and a chain operating in said conduit. a

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of

